The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array can be rearranged to suit different astronomy observing needs (Photo: Carlos Padilla, NRAO/AUI/NSF)

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Article Summary

In a moment long-awaited by thousands of astronomers from around the globe, a cluster of precision radio telescopes located on the barren Chajnantor Plateau of northern Chile has finally gone operational. Although only partially complete, ALMA, or the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, is already considered the most advanced telescope of its type. Certainly, it's the highest, with a literally breath-taking base elevation of 16,500 feet (5000m).